Polycythemia vera

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a stem cell disorder characterized as a panhyperplastic, malignant, and neoplastic marrow disorder. Its prominent feature is an elevated absolute red blood cell mass because of uncontrolled red blood cell production; this go with increased white blood cell and platelet production. Its peak incidence is age 50-70 years; it has no sex predilection.

According to WHO, diagnosis of PV requires the presence of either all three major criteria or the first two major criteria and the minor criterion.
Major criteria:
- Hemoglobin >16.5 g/dL in men and >16 g/dL in women, or hematocrit >49% in men and >48% in women, or red cell mass >25% above mean normal predicted value
- Bone marrow biopsy
- Presence of somatic mutations
Minor criterion:
- Low serum erythropoietin level

See reference for more information.

Adapted from Medscape Drugs & Diseases. Fast five quiz: are you familiar with key aspects of polycythemia vera? Internet. Available at kttps://reference.medscape.com/viewarticle/894719 . Accessed on April 30, 2018. To view the entire article and all other content on the Medscape Drugs & Diseases site, a free, one-time registration is required.

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